Mighty Ducks Announce 2005-2006 Television Schedule

The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim announced today the National Hockey League (NHL) club’s television schedule for the 2005-2006 regular season. A total of 69 Mighty Ducks games will air in Southern California this season, the most in club history. FSN West 2 will televise 60 games (includes four on FSN West), over-the-air partner KCAL 9 will televise four contests, with OLN (2) and NBC (1) also carrying Ducks games this season. In addition, two Los Angeles Kings’ broadcasts vs. Anaheim will be carried on FSN West, bringing the total to 69.

“We are very pleased to be able to announce an expanded partnership with FSN West 2, along with a new special agreement with KCAL 9 for this season,” said Anaheim Arena Management President/CEO & Mighty Ducks Executive Vice President/COO Tim Ryan. “Combined with the Kings, Southern California hockey fans will see a record 136 NHL games on television this season.”

FSN West 2 and the Mighty Ducks are currently in year eight of a 10-year agreement, and have agreed to increase the flagship partnership for the coming season from 40 to 60 televised games. FSN West 2 will televise the first seven games of the 2005-2006 regular season, including Anaheim’s season opener Wednesday, Oct. 5 in Chicago. FSN West 2 will televise a Ducks pre-game show one-half hour prior to the majority of home games, hosted by Bill Macdonald and Brian Hayward.

“We’re proud of our continued commitment to the hockey fans of Southern California. This season is our 13th as a telecast partner to the Ducks, and we're glad to be with the team, and their fans, as we all return to the ice,” said Steve Simpson, vice president and general manager, FSN West and FSN West 2.

One of the nation’s premier regional sports networks, FSN West 2 provides 24 hours sports programming to over 4.8 million viewers in Southern California, Hawaii and Nevada. FSN West 2 produces over 260 live sporting events and

over 3,400 hours of original programming per year. FSN West and FSN West 2 combine to produce over 460 live sporting events and telecast over 5,000 hours of original programming per year.

KCAL 9 and the Mighty Ducks have entered into a new agreement to televise four special Sunday 1 p.m. home contests for the coming season. KCAL is beginning its 13th consecutive season as the over-the-air home of the Mighty Ducks. KCAL 9 will open up its broadcasts with the Mighty Ducks taking on Phoenix on Sunday, Oct. 23 at 1:00 p.m.

KCAL 9 is one of the leading local broadcasters of major professional sports in the nation. In addition to its longtime partnerships with the Mighty Ducks and Los Angeles Lakers, the station will become the new broadcast home of the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2006. In addition, KCAL 9 broadcasts the John R. Wooden Classic at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim and, along with its sister station CBS 2, serves as the broadcast home of Special Olympics Southern California. In all, KCAL 9 provides coverage of more than 100 major sporting events each year.

“Everyone at KCAL 9 is looking forward to helping reintroduce the Mighty Ducks and the NHL to Southern California,” said Don Corsini, President & General Manager, KCAL 9 and CBS 2. “It is clear to us that Henry and Susan Samueli are firmly committed to running a first-class, community-oriented sports franchise. We look forward to being their partners and turning our broadcasts into events that showcase the Mighty Ducks’ new roster and their exciting, up-tempo style of play.”

All Mighty Ducks broadcasts on FSN, FSN2 and KCAL 9 will feature the broadcast team of John Ahlers (play-by-play) and Brian Hayward (color commentator).

New NHL broadcast partners OLN and NBC will carry three Mighty Ducks’ games nationally this season. OLN will broadcast the January 23 game at Los Angeles and the March 28 contest at Colorado. NBC will broadcast Anaheim’s April 8 game at Los Angeles.